Fastening device



Nov. 26, 1935. E. H. ELLIS-ON 2,022,081

FASTENING DEVICE Filed Aug. 22, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l H E 5[DWARDHHL/JO/V Patented Nov. 2 6, 1935 STATES PATNT OFFICE FASTENHNGDEVICE Application August 22, 1932, Serial No. 629,841

17 Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in a fastening device for doorsor windows of the casement type.

The preferred embodiment of the invention discloses a fastener which isautomatically operated when a door or window is closed or opened.Whether or not the door or window is operated manually or by means of asuitable operating mechanism is immaterial provided some means, forholding said door or window in fully closed position, is utilized. Thepreferred type of operator is shown and describedin my Patent No.1,539,549 and consists of a worm gear mechanism by which the door orwindow is held in closed position.

Since much difiiculty has been encountered in providing suitableoperators and fasteners for casement doors or windows, the presentinvention is shown applied to such structure. The present type casementwindow, for example, is arranged with an operator usually mounted on thesill and a fastener located mid-way of one of the frame stiles. Thefastener and operator are independent of each other in operation andlocation and, therefore, require two sets of finished hardware.Furthermore, since it is a universal requirement that a casement windowbe equipped with a screen, a considerable problem is involved in solocating the screen that it will not interfere with the manipulation ofthe operator or fastener. Many of the present casement window fasteningdevices are of such proportion, arrangement and location as to hinderinstallation or removal of a screen. Furthermore, since these fastenersare generally located mid-way of the vertical stile of the frame andengage only the adjacent open edge of the window, they generally do notdraw the window into weather tight engagement with the frame at the topand bottom. It frequently occurs that dirt on the outside sill preventscomplete engagement of the lower rail of the window with thecorresponding rail of the frame and, therefore, a fastener adapted todraw in the central portion of a Window into contact with the frame,tends to bend the stile of the windowsomewh'at out of shape. Since mostoperators are attached to the bottom rail of a window, there is atendency, resulting from whipping by wind, for the upper free corner ofthe window to be sprung outwardly a distance of one-half inch or more.The fastening devices now on the market, although presenting greatimprovement over the old type used on casement windows, still fall shortof perfection since they are unable to draw the window into such contactwith the frame as to fully prevent entry of the elements when the windowis in closed position.

The present invention marks a considerable advance in a casement windowand door fastening device as it provides a fastener that is fully 5automatic in its operation and will not only hold the door or window inclosed position, but will pull in the upper free corner of the window ordoor though it be warped and sprung outwardly and would not otherwise bebrought into contact with the frame and this, therefore, constitutes theprincipal object of the invention.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of a fasteningdevice which, while autornatically locking the window in closedposition, will not interfere with the installation or removal of a flyscreen or storm sash that may be applied to the inside face of theframe.

A further object of the invention has in the provision of anautomatically operated fastener 29 which will function even though thewindow is inadvertently slammed or otherwise mistreated.

Another and further object of the invention lies in the provision of afastener which, when the window is in closed position, is entirelyconcealed from view.

Other and further objects of the invention will be more fully understoodfrom a consideration of the following specification which is taken inconjunction with the acoompanying drawings which 30 form a part thereof,and in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a casement window to whichone form of the invention is applied and in which is shown an operatorof the type referred to in the above listed patent;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of one of the window and framestiles, parts being broken away to disclose the location of thefastening mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View, taken substantially on the line 3-3of Figure 1, showing the fastening mechanism in elevation;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, showing the other extreme positionof the fasteningmechanisin with the window drawn into close abutmentwith the frame;

Figs. 5, 6 and '7 are horizontal sectional views of the fastener,-beingtaken substantially on the lines 5 5, 6-fi and L l of Figure 2;

Fig. 8 is a horizontal sectional view, takensubstantially on the line 88of Figure 2; and

Fig. 9 is a horizontal sectional view, taken substantially on the line99 of Figure 3, of an adjuster for the fastener.

Referring to the drawings, the invention shown mounted in a casementwindow structure, generally indicated by the reference numeral ID. Thisstructure includes a casement frame H and Window 52. The frame Itcomprises upper and lower horizontal rails l3 and stiles I4. The Windowl2 comprises upper and lower horizontal rails 56 and ii and verticalstiles ES. The particular contour of the rails and stiles of the frameand sash herein shown is of no consideration other than that theseelements must be of such form as to cooperate to provide sealing contactof one with the other. An automatic window erator it, of the worm geartype, operated by a crank it is found preferable for use in connectionwith applicants fastener since an operator of this type is lockedagainst any movement except that produced through rotation of the crank.

The fastener for securing the window l2 in full and complete contactwith the frame I l is mounted in the stile E4 of the frame and comprisesa vertically reciprocable plate 22. The lower end of the plate istapered and fitted with a roller 23 which projects beyond the lowerextremities of plate. The upper end of the plate is formed with a slopedwall 25, in the upper end of which is located a further roller 26. Theplate is formed with upper and lower longitudinally extending slots 25and 29. A pin 3e, projecting through the slot 29 has threaded engagementwith the stile M. A suitable washer 3| is mounted beneath the head ofthe pin to prevent removal of the plate. The upper slot 28 receives apin 33 which is likewise threaded into the stile E4. The head of thispin projects through a horizontal slot in a guide block 35. The block 35has flanges Bl which lie adjacent to and act as a guideway for the upperend of the plate 22. The block 35 is mounted on the inwardly directedflange 38 of the stile M by means of screws 39. Turning the screws 39causes the block 35 and the upper portion of the plate 22 to moveinwardly or outwardly for the purpose of altering the horizontalposition of the roller 25. Further description of this adjustablefeature will be considered in connection with the operation of thefastener. A third roller it is mounted adjacent the lower end of theplate 22, being so located as to project beyond the inner vertical edgeof the plate for the purpose of contacting with the flange 38 of thestile l4 when said plate is vertically reciprocated.

The structure above described constitutes'the moving element of thefastening mechanism. The m ans by which the plate is verticallyreciprocated is attached to the free stile H3 of the window and is shownas a bracket 43. The bracket is formed with a lower horizontal flange 44which is continued upwardly at any desired angle to form a cam face it.When the window [2 is moved inwardly toward the frame i i, the cam face35 strikes the roller 23, causing said roller, and the plate 22 on whichit is mounted, to move upwardly. The pitch of the cam surface 45 of thebracket determines the ratio of vertical movement of the plate 22 to thehorizontal movement of the window i2. This may be more clearlyunderstood by a comparison of Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings. It willbe noted, since plate 22 must move in a direction perpendicular to thedirection of travel of the window, that no fasten- 1 commercial use, isknown to be capable of drawing the window into close abutment with theframe.

Adjacent the rail I6, and mounted on the stile iii of the window, is astrike plate 4?. This plate is secured in any suitable manner, as byscrews $8, and includes a depending portion 49 having' two angularlydisposed cam flanges 5B and 5!. The roller 26, mounted on and projectingbeyond the upper extremity of the plate 22, is adapted to first engagethe flange 59, moving upwardly and over onto the more steeply pitchedflange 5|. The more gradual the slope of the flange 5B, the greater theinward travel of the upper corner of the sash toward the frame when theplate 22 is moved upwardly. When the upper corner of the window hasmoved almost into abutment with the frame, the roller 26 is movedupwardly onto the flange 5!, the pitch of which being steep diminishesthe inward rate of travel of the window but increases the force withwhich the window is caused to abut the frame for the purpose ofproviding a weather tight seal between said window and said frame. Thelength of the portion 49, as well as that of the flanges 56 and 5|, isgoverned by the size of the window and the distance it is desired tohave the roller 26 move the upper portion of the window inwardly to abutthe frame.

The operation of the device above described, is as follows: Theoperating crank by which the window is moved from one position toanother is manipulated to draw the window toward the frame. When thelowermost free edge of the window has approached to within approximatelyone-fourth inch of the frame M, the cam face d5 contacts with the roller23 on the plate 22. As the crank is further turned to draw the lowerportion of the window into abutment with the lower part of the frame,the cam face bears against roller 23, causing it to move upwardly alongthe cam face. Since the direction of travel of the cam is perpendiculartothat of the direction of travel of the plate 22, the roller M isprovided to contact with the frame flange 38 for the purpose ofdecreasing friction. The 5 vertical travel of the plate 22 is limited tothe length of the slots 28 and 29 but it will be noted that this is atleast twice the distance of inward travel of the lower edge of thewindow toward the frame. By reason of the fact that 0 the upper freecorner of practically every casement window is unsupported, since theoperator is usually mounted on the casement sill and engages the lowerrail of the window, said upper portion is very frequently sprungsomewhat out of alignment with the lower portion of the win dow. In factthis is found to be a usual rather than an'unusual condition. Figure 3of the drawings, there-fore, illustrates this condition by showing theupper free corner of the window to be 0 sprung out of alignment with thelower free corner by approximately one-fourth inch. As the plate 22 ismoved upwardly at a rate of speed twice that of the inward travel of thewindow toward the frame, the roller 2% is caused 5 to abut and travelupwardly along the cam face 5% and since the roller 26 is constrained tovertical movement, the upper free portion of the window must moveinwardly approximately a distance twice that of the lower portion of the7 window. When the upper free portion of the window has very nearlyapproached the frame, the roller 2% leaves the cam face 56 and movesupwardly onto the face 5!. This cam face is of a pitch which, whilediminishing the inward 7 rate of movement of this portion of the window,increases the force of the roller applied to cause the window to closelyabut the frame. Since the inward travel of the upper free portion of thewindow is dependent upon the vertical movement of plate 22, and thevertical movement of plate 22 is dependent on the inward movement of thelower free portion of the window, it is evident that if a windowoperating mechanism is of sufficient ruggedness to cause the lower freeportion of the window to sealingly abut the frame, the fasteningmechanism will be operated to cause the upper free portion of the windowto abut the frame in a like manner. As brought out above, the operatingmechanism must be provided with locking means to retain it in adjustedposition with the lower portion of the window abutting the frame.

The guide block 35, which is laterally adjustable by means of screw 39subsequently to the release of locking pin 33, is adapted to move theupper end of the plate 22 and roller 25 inwardly or outwardly for thepurpose of drawing the window into closed abutment with the frame orloosening the window should it improperly abut at this point. Thisfeature may be more clearly understood by an illustration in connectionwith Figure 3 of the drawings. In this figure it is assumed that theupper portion of the window has been sprung outwardly. It is apparentthat when the window operator moves to draw the window into abutmentwith the frame the upper portion of said window will fail to abut theupper portion of the frame by a space equal to the extent ofmisalignment. Adjustment is made as follows, the window is opened, pin33 rotated to release the guide block 35 and the window again closed.The adjusting screws may now be rotated to move the guide block inwardlywhich movement will draw the plate 22 and roller 25 inwardly causing theadjacent portion of the window to be drawn into abutment with the frame.The window is then opened and the pin 33 rotated to lock the guide blockin its new position. Unless some accident occurs to the window such aswould make it impossible for any operator or fastening device tofunction, the present fastener will continually serve to draw the upperportion of the window into abutment with the frame simultaneously withthat of the lower portion of the window.

Although applicant has shown and described only one modification of hisinvention as applied to the fastening of a casement window, it iscontemplated that the invention may be utilized for the fastening ofother closures and also any modifications or adaptations of the presentstructure which may be made in so far as they do not depart from thespirit and scope of the invention as defined in the hereunto annexedclaims.

Having thus set forth my invention what I claim as new and for which Idesire protection by Letters Patent is:-

1. In a casement window structure, a fastener for drawing in andsecuring the window in closed position, said fastener comprisingrelatively movable elements, one of said elements being attached to thewindow and theother of said elements being mounted on and movablelongitudinally of the frame of said structure, said window element,during the operation of closing said window, being engaged with andmoved by the element .on

said frame to draw said window into closed position.

2. In a casement window structure having frame and window stiles of aform which together produce a rectangular enclosure, a fastener 5 formoving a free corner of the window into closed position, said fastenerbeing located within said rectangular enclosure and comprisingrelatively movable elements, one of said elements being mounted on thestile of said frame, the other of said elements being mounted on thestile of said window, and means on said window for moving the element onsaid frame to engage the window element and move said window during thenormal operation of closing said window.

3. A fastener for securing a casement window in abutment with the frametherefor comprising a movable element and a fixed element, one of saidelements being mounted on the stile of said frame and the other of saidelements being mounted on the stile of said window, a bracket forengaging and moving said frame mounted element into engagement with saidwindow mounted element during the operation of closing said window.

4. In a casement window structure, a window fastener comprisingrelatively movable elements, one of said elements being mounted on thewindow, and the other element on the frame, said frame mounted elementbeing vertically movable to engage said window mounted element and drawsaid window into abutment withsaid frame and means for varying theengaged distance of travel of one element relative to the other.

5. In a casement window structure, a window fastener comprisingrelatively movable elements, one of said elements being mounted on *thewindow, and the other element on the frame, and means on said window,said means, during closing of said window, causing said frame mountedelement to engage and move said window element and the adjacent portionof said window a distance greater than that portion of said Window onwhich said means is located.

6. In a casement window structure, a window fastener comprisingrelatively movable elements, joined tothe frame and window of saidstructure, and means onsaid window for moving said elements at greaterthan closing velocity of said window whereby said elements will cause anoutwardly sprung portion of said window to abut the frame simultaneouslywith the unsprung portion.

7. In a casement window structure, a window fastener comprisingrelatively movable elements joined to the frame and window of saidstructure, and means for varying the engaged relative distance of travelof said elements whereby to draw a free portion of said window intoabutment with the corresponding portion of said frame substantiallysimultaneously with the abutment of the portion of said window connectedwith a suitable closing means.

8. In a casement window structure including means for holding saidwindow in closed position, a window fastener comprising a verticallymovable element mounted on the frame of said structure, engageable meansattached to the free portion of the window, and means on said window,said means moving said frame mounted element to engage said engageablemeans and draw the said free portion of said window into abutment withsaid frame during the operation of closing said window.

9. In a casement window structure, a window fastener comprising avertically reciprocable plate on the frame stile of said structure, astrike plate on the corresponding stile of the window, antifrictionrollers on said reciprocable plate, and

means on said window, said' means, during the operation of closing saidwindow, engaging one of said rollers and moving said plate to engageanother of said rollers with said strike plate whereby a free portion ofsaid window may be drawn into and held in abutment with said frame,

10. In a casement window structure, awindow fastener comprising a platelocated within the stile of the frame of said structure, pins in saidstile projecting into slots in said plate and limiting the verticalreciprocating of said plate, and anti-friction rollers mounted on andprojecting beyond the upper and lower extremity of said plate, means onsaid frame for adjusting the upper of said rollers inwardly oroutwardly, a strike plate joined to the stile of the window of saidstructure, and means for moving said frame mounted plate upwardly toengage the upper of said rollers with said strike plate, whereby to drawin and fasten said window in abutment with said frame.

11. In a casement window structure, a window fastener comprising avertically reciprocable plate on the frame stile of said structure, astrike plate ,on the corresponding stile of the window, anti-,

friction rollers projecting beyond and mounted on the upper andlowerextremities of said stile mounted plate, a bracket on said window, saidbracket having a cam-face engageable withthe clowermost of said rollersand adapted to move said stile mounted plate upwardly to engage theuppermost of said rollers with said strike plate whereby to draw in andfasten a free portion of said window during the manual or mechanicaloperation of closing said window.

12. In a casement window structure, a window fastener comprising avertically reciprocable plate on the frame stile of said structure, astrike plate on the corresponding stile of the window, said strike platehaving a double cam-like face, anti-friction rollers projecting beyondand terminating the upper and lower extremities of said frame mountedplate, a bracket having a cam-like face joined to a portion of saidwindow remote from said strike plate, said bracket, during the operationof closing said window, engaging one of said rollers and moving saidframe mounted plate upwardly-to engage another of said rollers withfirst one and then the other of the cam-like faces of said strike plateto draw the free portion of said window into abutment with said frame,and means for laterally adjusting the upper portion of said framemounted plate whereby the upper of said plate rollers will 2,022 ,osr

move the strike plate of a badly sprung window into abutment with saidframe.

13. In a casement window having frame and window stiles of a form whichtogether produce a rectangular enclosure, a fastener located in saidenclosure, said fastener including relatively movable elements, one ofsaid elements being joined to said frame and the other of said elementsto said window, said elements, during the operation of closing saidwindow, automatically cooperating to move the adjacent portion of saidwindow into abutment with said frame at a velocity equal to or greaterthan the closing velocity of said window.

14. In a casement window having frame and window stiles of a form whichtogether produce a rectangular enclosure, a fastener located in saidenclosure, said fastener comprising two relatively movable elementsmounted on the stiles of said frame and said window, said elements,during the operation of closing said window, automatically cooperatingto move the adjacent portion of said window into abutment with saidframe, said elements being concealed from view when said window isclosed, and means for varying the extent of cooperative movement of saidelements, whereby to adapt said fastener for use with properly alignedor sprung casement windows.

15. In a casement window having frame and window stiles of a form whichtogether produce a rectangular enclosure, a fastener for said windowincluding relatively movable elements located within said enclosure andjoined to the stiles of said window and said frame, said elementsautomatically cooperating to move a por tion of said window intoabutment with said frame, during the operation of closing said window,and being wholly concealed from view when said window is in closedposition.

16. In a casement window structure, a fastener for drawing in andsecuring the window in closed position, said fastener comprisingrelatively movable cooperating elements mounted on the frame and windowof said structure, and means for automatically actuating one of saidelements to engage and move the other of said elements, during theoperation of closing said window.

17. In a casement window structure, an automatically actuable fastenerfor drawing in and securing the window in closed position, said fastenercomprising relatively movable cooperating elements mounted in the frameand window of said structure, and means for laterally adjusting one ofsaid elements, whereby to vary the extent of cooperative engagement ofsaid elements and the extent of movement of said window by said fastenerduring the normal operation of closing said window.

EDWARD H. ELLISON.

